Calmness is the Cradle of Power – Attributed to Josiah Gilbert Holland Calmness is not just a trait but a powerful skill, much needed in a world that often feels chaotic and threatening. It is not passivity or indifference but a state of emotional balance and mental clarity. Panic clouds judgement while calmness opens the door to thoughtful responses. How do we cultivate calm? Is it a quality of leadership and does calmness work in everyday situations, including resolving conflict? Speaker: Maureen Goodman is the Programme Director for the Brahma Kumaris (UK) and oversees the University’s activities in areas such as education, youth, women’s issues, interfaith dialogue and the environment. She is the University’s representative at the United Nations, Vienna and is a member of the Executive Circle of the Spirit of Humanity Forum, a platform for leaders to discover new ways to move forward, based on deep human values. Maureen travels widely giving lectures on themes related to spiritual development.

Everyone looks for the keys to success or to change and many promise that key. But one of the most subtle keys is that of acceptance. To fully embrace ‘what is’ enables us to drop into a place of inner calm and gratitude. From that place and space of non-resistance, new energy, inspiration and wisdom can flow. Discover the sources of strength which underlie acceptance, the ingredients of resistance and the opportunities, both external and internal, that acceptance offers. Speaker: Marcelo Bulk Marcelo Bulk has been associated with the Brahma Kumaris for over 40 years and is the National Co-ordinator of the University’s activities in Colombia. He has worked as a business consultant and facilitator with several major companies in Latin America, Asia and Europe and is currently associated with the Union Consulting Group in Colombia and the Oxford Leadership Academy (UK). Marcelo lectures internationally on topics related to self-leadership, human values and meditation and is the author of The Pathway towards Leadership published in Spanish and Portuguese.

We express our deepest values through our many and varied relationships. Yet at every level of society it is in relationships that we face the most challenges and express both our best and the worst of ourselves. Parmjit Basra shares his understanding and experience of how to create and sustain good and lasting relationships. Speaker: Parmjit Basra Parmjit has been a student and teacher of Raja Yoga meditation for 29 years. He is proactively involved in helping others of all backgrounds, from children to youth to adults, to realise their true potential. He is married with three children and four grandchildren. He has a wealth of life experiences and has worked in Textile Manufacturing, Adult Education and The Building Sector.

Secrets of Abundance | Linda Lee “The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts.” -Marianne Williamson Many equate abundance with financial wealth and material possessions but true abundance touches every area of our lives. More hidden traps also exist - the subconscious beliefs about lack, limitation and not being “good enough”. This talk will look at the shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, how to re-write those limiting beliefs and what to replace them with in order to experience an abundant life. Speaker: Linda Lee Linda Lee is based in Brighton from where she coordinates the activities of the Brahma Kumaris in the locality. Linda has travelled to many countries around the world sharing her enthusiasm for the practical yet simple way of life that the Brahma Kumaris wisdom teaches. She has a deep love for truth and always speaks from her own experience with refreshing honesty and humour.

Conscience is an instrument of the soul. It detects both the distinctions between true and false, as well as ethically right and wrong. Conscience is the friend and guide of those who aspire to moral integrity. It is a reliable life coach, yet paradoxically mostly unheeded, and relegated to the back burner. Where do we stand and what are the steps to bring our inner ear closer to the voice of conscience and further from the voices of social norms? Speaker: Denise Lawrence Denise Lawrence has been a practitioner of Raja Yoga with the Brahma Kumarissince 1974. She is essentially a philosopher, spiritual teacher, author, podcaster and international speaker. She specialises in bridging the gap between ancient Hindu scriptures, mythology and rituals and the current expression of The Bhagavad Gita’s philosophy of spiritual knowledge and practice of Raja Yoga as defined at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. She currently lives in Southern France.

Just as musicians need to keep their instruments finely tuned in order to produce beautiful music and be in harmony with other players, so too we can learn the art of tuning into our inner selves whilst tuning out from external influences and distractions. Join our speaker this evening, Gil Fernandes, to explore: What is the purpose and practice of tuning in and tuning out? Why do we get out of tune with ourselves and others? What part does intuition play? Gil was born and grew up in Lisbon. After studying music in Austria, he transitioned to a successful IT career, contributing his skills to diverse industries, including airspace and telecom. In 2007 London beckoned, leading him into a consulting software development venture founded by a fellow meditator. Gil's journey with the Brahma Kumaris began in 1993, complementing his lifelong fascination with different types of yoga practices. Gil offers talks and courses in Raja Yoga meditation.as a member of the Spanish and Portuguese group.

Letting Go of Guilt: Finding Forgiveness | Luciana Ferraz While guilt can be a natural emotion, unchecked it can drain our time, energy, and peace of mind. In this talk, discover the root causes of guilt and how it can keep us trapped in a negative cycle. Explore tools and strategies to release the past and embark on the journey of forgiving, letting go and moving on. Speaker: Luciana Ferraz Luciana Ferraz is the national coordinator for the Brahma Kumaris in Brazil. Luciana has a background in sociology and her special interest in social issues and the environment has led her to explore the connection between mind and matter and how our care towards nature is based on a relationship of love, respect and reverence for all forms of life. Luciana has travelled to many different countries such as India, the USA, Europe and Angola where she has given lectures and seminars on several topics such as Human Values in Life, Integral Health, Positive Consciousness and Meditation.

Using our values to make a difference in the workplace Celebrating World Values Day When we are happy, we feel energised and motivated to give and be our best. How can we create a workplace culture where work becomes a pleasure rather than a drudge and we put an end to the 'Monday morning blues'? Speakers: Rekha Kohli is Executive Leader within Perry Hall Multi-Academy Trust of 10 schools which serve some of the most deprived areas of the West Midlands. She is a very dynamic and positive person who has helped to create a culture of respect and happiness in the schools for which she is responsible. In July 2024 she was awarded the Pearson’s Bronze National Head Teacher of the Year award reflecting her journey and achievements within the Education Sector. Danny Maher arrived in London in 1975 and since then has worked in the mental health/social care arena. Danny is currently the CEO of Ashford Place charity in Cricklewood having started in 1996. He is also a member of the Brent Multifaith Forum. Danny is a very caring and committed person who is able to bring out the best in others and create an environment in which workers, volunteers and service users feel respected, appreciated and happy. The conversation is facilitated by Charles Fowler FRSA, member of the Steering Group of the UK Values Alliance and Chair of Human Values Foundation

The work of rehearsals is looking for meaning and then making it meaningful Peter Brook, Theatre Director. Does it ever feel as though life is a complex play and you're the lead actor without a script? Spirituality offers a unique approach: it's your personal director, guiding you through the rehearsal of life. Just as actors collaborate and refine their performances in rehearsals, practising spirituality can unveil ways to deal with a challenging life gracefully. By recognising your inner wisdom and seeking inspiration from higher sources, you'll discover a fantastic toolkit to help shape a life filled with meaning, peace, and beautiful connections. Speaker: Minal Patel Minal Patel is a blend of artist and meditator. Grounded in the teachings of Raja Yoga meditation since childhood, Minal’s life has been an interplay of meditation practice and spiritual education. This has successfully equipped him so that he can navigate life’s challenges, an emotionally demanding career and find genuine fulfilment. Professionally, he works as an actor and a singer, performing on screen and at theatres across the country. Beyond his career, Minal shares his own experience of the transformative power of Raja Yoga through talks, workshops and retreats, offering practical tools for wellness and inner freedom.

"Freedom is not a gift from anyone; it is a birthright of every human being." Mahatma Gandhi Marking the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth The human spirit always seems to be searching for freedom. This enduring quest has shaped civilizations, sparked revolutions and inspired countless individuals to challenge tyranny and oppression, often at the risk of imprisonment or loss of life. Our speaker will explore this important topic including the following questions: • What is true freedom and how can it be achieved? • What is the relationship between inner freedom and external freedom? • What are the obstacles or challenges to inner freedom and how can they be overcome? • What is the relationship between freedom and happiness? Speaker: Dipty Naran For the past 40 years, Dipty Naran has been a student and senior teacher at the Brahma Kumaris in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a dedicated educator with a deeply caring nature who has worked with a variety of groups within the community including vulnerable and young people. Her ability to make the teachings of the Brahma Kumaris practical and accessible has enabled countless people to positively integrate spirituality into their daily lives.

On the battlefield, a soldier will assess each situation for its potential danger and find ways to protect the self and others. As souls, we have lived through many experiences and fought many battles ~ of injustice, personal boundaries, threatened honour. This has made us hyper-vigilant to attacks on our way of being. As we embark on a spiritual path, in a sense we have to retire from this soldier-like attitude. But it takes time to give up the battle. We begin to look at the world in a different way, seeing situations with compassion and understanding. We recognise the futility of fighting and begin to create a different future, a future of peace, built on thousands of peaceful thoughts and footsteps. Speaker: Valériane Bernard Valériane was born in France and from a young age she foresaw that only genuine personal engagement between people could create a lasting quality of life within the human family. This insight led her to an active spiritual life from the age of 25, committing to peace through meditation and creating tools of awareness to advance the condition of women, promote respectful relationships with our environment, resolve workplace disharmony and, through interfaith gatherings within the community, broaden cultural understanding. Valériane has lived in six different countries, including Chile and Costa Rica and is fluent in four languages. Currently residing in France, she continues to build bridges of understanding between cultures as the Brahma Kumaris’ representative of the United Nations in Geneva.